The Bet

“What are you doing here?” Holden looked at Theodore, and he thought he could see something akin to sadness in Holden’s eyes, and he didn’t want to answer that question, he enjoyed it, that for once someone talked to him without already knowing who he was, but he also felt like he owed Holden some information. He didn’t have to be specific after all.
“I’m from a rich, prestigious family, then something with a wedding happened, and now I’m hiding for a while, so they will let me have my way at least once.” It was funny. Theodore did get everything he wanted. To a certain extent. Things that could be bought have never been a problem, like the newest toys when he was a child, but things that concerned him were already decided for him, like the fact that he was going to study law one day. He watched the darkness outside, leaving the tiny diner to feel like a pocket of the universe encased by blackness, and he wondered if his father was already freaking out.
“Sounds like ya weren’t happy there in the first place, if ya ran off because of one minor inconvenience.” Holden shrugged.
“Excuse me? I was happy. I just don’t want that one thing. That’s all. What do you even know?” Theodore got a little louder at the end because he was happy and Holden didn’t know anything.
Holden leaned in and Theodore leaned back. “Let’s make a deal,” Theodore raised an eyebrow instead of answering. “You can stay here for as long as you want.”
When Holden didn’t continue Theodore spoke, “What’s the catch?”
“Ya pay rent, like a normal person. When ya leave and have realized that ya weren’t happy I keep the money, if ya still say ya were happier in your plastic world I’ll give ya your money back.” Holden reached a hand over the table, but Theodore didn’t take it.
“What’s in it for me?”
“The chance to find yourself and a roof above ya head,” Holden stared at him, hand still waiting for his, “Deal?” Theodore dreaded being alone for the next few weeks. “What if I lie?”
“I think I’ll be able to tell.” Holden answered fast, without thinking or doubting. Theodore just smiled and took his hand.
“Deal.” The only thing on his mind was fuck it and as he looked back out the window he saw a dragonfly sitting on the windowsill, moving its wings and for a moment he lost himself in the sky-blue of it’s body before he shuddered. Theodore hated dragonflies.

That night Theodore went to Holden’s apartment with the brownish, carpeted floor, and he thought it looked just like a motel room, but alive. Wood clad the walls up to hip height, the white walls decorated with sun stained pictures and paintings, shelves filled with snow globes, books, keychains, candles and seashells. The next day Theodore was dragged through the first second hand shop he had ever been to. Everything was just too big on him and the first, and last, time he asked for another size Holden just threw belts and suspenders at him. He held a pair of boots up to his face. “The fuck would I need those for?” Theodore asked while examining the thick sole, and he thought those boots were not made for him, sleek dress shoes that gave you blisters were made for him.
“Work.” Holden answered flatly and Theodore stared at him wide-eyed.
“What?”
“Ya need a job to pay rent. Welcome to the real life.”